Rule Britannia!

If any of us had doubts that 2013 might be a limp year in comparison to the epic successes of London 2012 and the Jubilee they’ve been swiftly forgotten in recent weeks. What a summer it’s been so far! British successes in the field of sport have wowed the world, with a stunning win at Wimbledon and another triumph at the Tour de France, plus our cricketers aren’t doing too badly in the Ashes, either. To top things off the weather has finally come good too, with virtually the entire UK basking in proper summertime temperatures. The financial climate is starting to feel more stable and the school summer holidays are on the horizon – what more excuses do you need to celebrate?! There’s also a royal baby on the way, so if all this good news has brought out your patriotic side, why not bask in moment of national pride with a celebration or two?

There’s nothing quite so British as a garden party, so with the sun still shining why not gather some friends and family, crack open a bottle of something refreshing and fruity and serve up some delectable treats with a  thoroughly British heritage. Our Celebrate Britain range features everything you need to do garden parties in style, from waterproof Union Jack bunting to flag cupcake sticks in red, white and blue. Serve up bowls of strawberries and ice-cream from our Celebrate Britain paper tubs, or make an Eton Mess, the perfect summer dessert combining fresh summer fruits and meringue – there’s a great recipe for this traditional summer favourite on the BBC Food website.

The beauty of a garden party is that catering can be low key. Think simple sandwiches in traditional combinations, such as salmon and cream cheese, cucumber and egg mayonnaise, scotch eggs, scones and jam…the traditional garden party is all about dainty treats which makes things super easy for hosts and allows you some extra time to ‘dress’ your party in patriotic style. Strings of Union Jack bunting look perfect attached between trees, fences or wound around parasols, and you can make your central table look quintessentially English by adding jugs of freshly picked blooms and a sprinkling of our crown confetti and crystals. Add interest for little guests by supplying a tray of themed bubbles, perfect for keeping them occupied in between the odd garden game or two. Why not set up an area of little ones with traditional garden games, such as croquet, boules or skittles, or make up a craft table where they can make their own Union Jack flags? All you need are rectangles of paper, a handful of straws, sellotape and some colouring pens. If you’re feeling generous you could make up favour bags or pails for your younger guests to take home, filled with traditional sweet-shop sweets, such as penny chews, sherbet dip-dabs and liquorice laces.  We have a great selection of favour bags and pails you can fill with goodies.

If you’re after ideas for adult refreshment you’ll be pleased to know British wines have become more established in recent years, offering excellent quality still and sparkling options. Take a look at www.englishwineproducers.com to see what’s available and to find out more about the provenance of home-grown wines. Alternatively Pimms makes a fail-safe option that goes hand in hand with garden parties, or you could stick to the classic G&T – easy to make and refreshing.

Don’t reserve all the fun for kids. Why not give each grown-up guest a themed trivia scratch card to get them in competitive mode, or take on the kids in a game of tug of war or tag. With the good weather forecast to continue for some weeks to come, be sure to make the most of it and enjoy a great British summer to remember!

Take a look at the full Celebrate Britain range at www.neviti.com, where you’ll find colourful tableware and decorative accessories perfect for summer celebrations and picnics.